Sapporo in May 2025: Highlights, Events & Festivals
In May, Sapporo's climate warms up to a maximum temperature of 17 degrees, allowing you to enjoy your day with just a light jacket or cardigan. Along with this warmth, the cherry blossom front (the line connecting the predicted cherry blossom dates across Japan, extending from south to north) moves northward, and various flowers such as cherry blossoms, tulips, and lilacs begin to bloom, giving you a sense of spring's arrival.
Sapporo is the prefectural capital of Hokkaido. While the area around Sapporo Station is lined with commercial facilities and hotels, lush green nature spreads out just a short distance from the city center. It's a popular tourist destination as an attractive city where urban life and nature coexist, and it's always bustling with people.
In May 2025, various events related to food and nature will be held in Sapporo. In this article, I'll introduce the highlights, basic information, schedules, and access to these event venues.
5 Must-See Events in Sapporo in May 2025 Where You Can Enjoy Nature and Exquisite Food & Drinks
Here are 5 must-see events in Sapporo in May 2025 where you can enjoy nature and exquisite cuisine and drinks.
Sapporo Lilac Festival
Source:Official website
The Sapporo Lilac Festival began in 1960 from the desire of cultural figures to hold cultural events during the season when lilacs bloom. The following year, lilacs were selected as Sapporo's official tree, and the festival has become a major event representing Sapporo.
Next, I'll explain the two venues where the festival is held: Odori Park and Kawashimo Park.
Lilac Festival in Odori Park Venue
Source:Official website
The Odori Park venue, where you can appreciate about 400 lilac trees, offers different experiences in the 5th, 6th, and 7th blocks, which is an attractive feature.
The 5th block is filled with shopping booths and experience corners. The area where you can try traditional Japanese games like otedama (small cloth bags filled with azuki beans that are thrown and caught) and kendama is popular with families.
The 6th block has abundant food stalls. You can enjoy café meals during the day and bar food at night, accompanied by live stage performances. Eating in the outdoor space creates a sense of freedom, and you'll likely find yourself drinking more and more!
The 7th block features over 200 types of wine from more than 50 wineries and vineyards in Hokkaido. It's Hokkaido's largest wine event, where you can enjoy comparing different wines.
Why not fully enjoy the festival by viewing the lilac flowers while enjoying food, drinks, and the experience booths?
<Information>
- Date: May 14-25, 2025
- Access: Immediately from Odori Station on various lines
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.sapporo.travel/lilacfes/venue/
Lilac Festival at Kawashimo Venue
Source:Official website
The Kawashimo Park venue is packed with lilac-related activities including lilac quiz stamp rallies, lilac guided tours, and lilac art workshops!
I once participated in the lilac quiz stamp rally held in the Lilac Forest, collected all the stamps, and received prizes. While enjoying colorful lilacs gathered from around the world, I spent a meaningful time surrounded by the sweet fragrance of lilacs during the stamp rally.
When hungry, you can enjoy concerts at the special stage while eating at the food stalls. The Sapporo Event May 2025 promises to be an unforgettable experience for every audience member, especially tourists looking to immerse themselves in local culture!
<Information>
- Date: May 24-25, 2025
- Access: 1-minute walk from Kawashimo Koen-mae bus stop via Central Bus from Shiroishi Station, or 5-minute walk from Shiroishi High School
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.sapporo.travel/lilacfes/venue/
Hokkaido Jingisukan Festival 2025
Source:PR TIMES
The Hokkaido Jingisukan Festival 2025 at Sapporo Factory West Plaza is an event where you can compare different styles of jingisukan from across Hokkaido. Jingisukan is Hokkaido's soul food consisting of mutton or lamb and vegetables cooked on a special jingisukan grill. Each region has its unique way of eating jingisukan, and the event is known for offering more than 30 different tastes that are otherwise only available locally.
When I participated, they were holding the Seasoned Jingisukan Grand Prix, which created quite an excitement. The meat seasoned with various condiments from the most popular soy sauce to salt and miso was all exquisite, making it difficult to decide which shop to vote for.
The seasoned meat has less odor and is easy to eat, making it recommended even for first-timers. During the Sapporo Event May 2025, tourists will have a unique opportunity to discover new charms of jingisukan!
<Information>
- Date: May 16-18, 2025
- Access: About 3-minute walk from Exit 8 of Bus Center-mae Station on the Tozai Subway Line
- Admission: TBD
- Website: https://hokkaido-jingisukan.com/8342/
Otaru Plum Wine Festival
Source:Tanaka Shuzo
The Otaru Plum Wine Festival is an event organized by Tanaka Sake Brewery to introduce plum wine, one of Japan's representative alcoholic beverages, along with fruit liquors, wine, and plum-based foods.
The highlight is the plum wine tasting at two Tanaka Sake Brewery stores. I also participated in the tasting and was impressed by the depth of plum wine through comparing different flavors. Note that while tasting at the main store doesn't require a reservation, the Kikko Brewery store requires reservations for specific dates.
The event also sells limited-time plum wines, brewery-limited raw plum liquors, plum vinegar (extract produced as a byproduct of making pickled plums), and plum miso (a seasoning mixing plums and miso). As part of the Sapporo Event May 2025 festivities, tourists can visit both stores to find their favorite plum products!
<Information>
- Date: April 11-May 6, 2025
- Access: (Main store) About 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station (Kikko Brewery store) About 5-minute walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://tanakashuzo.com/
Hiraoka Plum Festival
Source:Official website
The Hiraoka Plum Festival is an event held at Hiraoka Park, known as Sapporo's premier plum grove, timed to coincide with the plum blossoms. The park, spanning approximately 65,000 square meters, features about 1,200 plum trees, attracting over 100,000 visitors annually who come to admire the elegant white and pink blossoms.
While enjoying the plum blossoms is certainly wonderful, my recommendation is to savor the plum soft-serve ice cream sold at the temporary food stalls. This pale pink soft-serve has a subtle sweet-tart plum flavor that's refreshingly easy to eat. As you stroll through the park, be sure to try this limited-edition flavor only available during this special season!
During the festival period, staff also conduct "Plum Grove Tours" where you can learn about the plums. Why not take this opportunity to learn more about these beautiful trees?
<Information>
- Dates: April 26 - May 11, 2025
- Access: Approximately 15 minutes from Oyachi Subway Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://hiraoka-park.jp/category/umematuri/
If Visiting Sapporo in May 2025, Have Locals Guide You to Excellent Restaurants!
If you're visiting Sapporo in May, have locals guide you to restaurants with excellent cuisine! The Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour offers delicious food and drinks at three famous izakaya (Japanese pubs) in Susukino known to locals.
After meeting at Susukino Station, the first stop is a hidden underground izakaya. Here you can enjoy fresh seafood dishes unique to Hokkaido (which is surrounded by ocean) paired with sake, shochu, and other alcoholic beverages.
For the second establishment, they'll choose an izakaya based on participants' preferences. You might enjoy another seafood place with different flavors from the first stop, or try meat dishes from Hokkaido's vast pastures.
For the final third stop, you can choose between finishing with either parfait or ramen. While post-drinking ramen is famous in Japanese drinking culture, finishing with a parfait is actually standard in Sapporo. There are even specialty shops dedicated to "finishing parfaits," so why not give it a try? The finishing parfait I ate wasn't overly sweet but refreshingly light, allowing me to finish it quickly despite having eaten and drunk so much already.
Join the tour and experience Sapporo's unique nightlife.
<Meeting point>
- Tour area: Sapporo
- Start time: 18:00
May 2025 Sapporo Events also Feature Japanese Culture and Rich Natural Beauty
May in Sapporo also offers events where you can enjoy Japanese culture and rich natural surroundings. Don't miss these experiences only available during this season.
Jozankei Onsen Keiryu Koinobori 2025
Source:Sapporo Tourist Association
Jozankei Onsen Keiryu Koinobori 2025 is an event where you can see koinobori (carp streamers traditionally displayed to pray for boys' healthy growth) at Jozankei, one of Hokkaido's representative hot spring areas. The koinobori are repurposed from those no longer used by Hokkaido households. When the event began in 1987, there were 150 carp streamers, but now that number has grown to around 400.
The event runs from April, when snow still remains on the mountains, until mid-May when fresh greenery becomes vibrant. The sight of these carp streamers dancing across the sky against the backdrop of beautiful seasonal nature is truly spectacular. I was overwhelmed by the impressive display when I first saw it.
The best viewing spot is from Tsukimi Bridge in the center of the hot spring town. From the bridge, you can get a close-up view of the colorful carp swimming above the river and hot spring inns.
Why not experience Hokkaido's spring by watching these red, green, blue, and other colorful carp streamers swimming through the sky?
<Information>
- Dates: April 10 - May 11, 2025
- Access: About 50 minutes from Makomanai Station on the Namboku Subway Line; 3-minute walk from Jozankei Yunomachi Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://jozankei.jp/event/koinobori/
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill Golden Week Events 2025
Source:PR TIMES
The Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill Golden Week Events 2025 features numerous family-friendly activities including sheep-related workshops and stamp rallies.
There are four popular sheep-themed attractions:
- Sheep shearing demonstrations
- Genghis Khan's Jin-kun stamp rally
- Sheep walking race
- Wool bobbin holder and wool acorn strap crafts
I've had the pleasure of watching the sheep walking race, where the leisurely sheep compete at their own pace. You can win prizes by correctly guessing which sheep will finish first, which made me quite passionate about cheering them on!
Come enjoy these events with the adorable fluffy sheep while feeling the refreshing spring breeze at this scenic observation point! In May 2025, Sapporo visitors will have the perfect opportunity to experience this unique event with a wonderful view.
<Information>
- Dates: April 26-May 6, 2025
- Access: Approximately 12 minutes by bus from Fukuzumi Station on the Toho Subway Line
- Admission: Adults 1000 yen, Elementary/Junior High students 500 yen
- Website: https://www.hitsujigaoka.jp/event/
Lily of the Valley Viewing 2025
Source:tenki.jp
At the Lily of the Valley Viewing 2025, you can see delicate lilies of the valley at the Biratori Town Mebae wild lily of the valley colony, which is the largest in Japan. The lilies at the venue once faced extinction due to excessive tourism, but have recovered enough to hold viewing events again after 10 years.
The pure white lilies of the valley swaying like bells in the wind among large green leaves are as beautiful as artwork. When I first saw the lilies of the valley at the colony, I was so captivated by the sight that I forgot to speak and just kept taking photos. Lily of the valley merchandise is also available at the venue, which would make great souvenirs.
Did you know that the flower language of lily of the valley is "the arrival of happiness"? Come wish for happiness while viewing these delicate flowers that are only open to the public during this season! This is a must-see event for visitors to Sapporo in May 2025!
<Information>
- Dates: May 24-June 1, 2025
- Access: Approximately 50 minutes by car from Hidaka Tomikawa IC on Hidaka Expressway
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.town.biratori.hokkaido.jp/soshikikarasagasu/kankoshokoka/kankoshokokakari/1/3/2/1457.html
Must-See Events Around Sapporo in May
Now I'll introduce must-see events around Sapporo in May.
44th Lake Toya Long Run Fireworks Festival
Source:Official website
The 44th Long Run Fireworks Festival began in 1982 to attract tourists who had stopped visiting due to the eruption of Mt. Usu in 1977. Every year from late April to October, about 450 fireworks light up the night sky over Lake Toya for 20 minutes from 8:45 PM to 9:05 PM.
A highlight of the fireworks festival is that you can view it from various locations, such as hotel rooms and open-air baths around Lake Toya, or from the fireworks viewing boat "Espoir."
My recommendation is viewing from the "Espoir." The boat moves in sync with the fireworks launched from the vessel, so you can watch the entire show from the best position without any obstructions.
The sight of colorful fireworks reflecting on the lake's surface is magical. In May 2025, Sapporo tourists should definitely venture a bit further to enjoy this spectacular night sky performance.
<Information>
- Dates: April 28-October 31, 2025
- Access: 15 minutes by taxi from JR Toya Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.laketoya.com/event/fireworks/
Hakodate Park Cherry Blossom Light-up
Source:Google Maps
The Hakodate Park Cherry Blossom Light-up is an event where you can enjoy illuminated cherry blossoms from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM during the cherry blossom season at Hakodate Park. About 360 cherry trees planted throughout the park, primarily Somei Yoshino variety, are gently illuminated by approximately 400 lanterns, allowing visitors to experience a different atmosphere compared to daytime viewing.
At the venue, you can enjoy not only the illuminated cherry blossoms but also food from street vendors. The stalls offer menus perfect for eating while walking, such as yakisoba, takoyaki, and fried chicken. I was able to enjoy the magical night cherry blossoms while snacking on some fried chicken.
Although it's warm during the day, it often gets cold at night, so warm clothing is necessary. Having a jacket or wrap is convenient for protection against the cold. If you're planning to visit Sapporo Event May 2025 after this, similar evening temperature drops should be expected.
<Information>
- Dates: April 19 - May 6, 2025
- Access: 3-minute walk from Aoyagicho Station on City Tram Line 2 (bound for Yunokawa)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/docs/2023033100026/
Goryokaku Park Cherry Blossom Light-up
Source:e Hakodate
The Goryokaku Park Cherry Blossom Light-up allows visitors to enjoy over 1,500 illuminated cherry trees, primarily Somei Yoshino, at the Goryokaku Fort, the only site in Hokkaido designated as a Special Historic Site. The park is famous as one of Hokkaido's premier cherry blossom viewing spots, known for attracting many visitors from distant places.
The highlight is being able to view the illuminated cherry blossoms surrounding the star-shaped Goryokaku from the observation deck of Goryokaku Tower. When I first saw it from the observation deck, I was captivated by the sight of star-arranged cherry blossoms illuminating the darkness with a pale pink light, and I stopped to stare at the view.
I also recommend strolling through the park to see the night cherry blossoms up close. The illuminated rows of cherry trees create a magical atmosphere, making you feel as if you've wandered into another world! Before the Sapporo Event May 2025, this would be an excellent opportunity to experience Hokkaido's nighttime cherry blossoms.
<Information>
- Dates: May 2025 (dates to be determined)
- Access: 18-minute walk from Goryokaku Park Station on the City Tram Line
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/docs/2023033100026/
For those who love rich natural environments like Hokkaido, we also recommend a private tour around Mt. Fuji!
For those who love rich natural environments like Hokkaido, we also recommend a private tour around Mt. Fuji.
The "Mt. Fuji Full-day Day Trip Tour from Tokyo with a Private Car & Guide" is a day tour that allows you to visit Mt. Fuji from Tokyo with a private car and guide. As a private tour, one attractive point is that you can choose sightseeing spots according to participants' preferences! After experiencing the Sapporo Event May 2025, this tour offers another iconic Japanese landscape experience.
There are 4 recommended sightseeing spots:
- Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine
- Wasabi (Japanese spicy condiment) farm
- Mt. Fuji 5th Station
- Oshino Hakkai
On the tour, you can enjoy a quintessentially Japanese scenic view of the five-story pagoda with Mt. Fuji at Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine, harvest and taste wasabi at the wasabi farm, and casually experience the atmosphere of climbing Mt. Fuji at the 5th Station.
At my favorite spot, Oshino Hakkai, you can see eight ponds formed by Mt. Fuji's snowmelt water. The sight of Mt. Fuji reflected like a mirror in the highly transparent, clear spring water is mystical and a must-see!
Why not participate in the tour and fully enjoy Mt. Fuji area, which could be called a symbol of Japan, in one day without missing anything?
<Meeting point>
- Tour area: Fuji area
- Start time: 8:00